What does referential integrity mean?

Definitions for referential integrity
ref·er·en·tial in·tegri·ty

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word referential integrity.

Wiktionary

  1. referential integritynoun

    The property of a relational database that enforces valid relationships between tables, such that no foreign key can contain a value that does not match a primary key in the corresponding table.

  2. Etymology: referential + integrity

Wikipedia

  1. Referential integrity

    Referential integrity is a property of data stating that all its references are valid. In the context of relational databases, it requires that if a value of one attribute (column) of a relation (table) references a value of another attribute (either in the same or a different relation), then the referenced value must exist.For referential integrity to hold in a relational database, any column in a base table that is declared a foreign key can only contain either null values or values from a parent table's primary key or a candidate key. In other words, when a foreign key value is used it must reference a valid, existing primary key in the parent table. For instance, deleting a record that contains a value referred to by a foreign key in another table would break referential integrity. Some relational database management systems (RDBMS) can enforce referential integrity, normally either by deleting the foreign key rows as well to maintain integrity, or by returning an error and not performing the delete. Which method is used may be determined by a referential integrity constraint defined in a data dictionary. The adjective 'referential' describes the action that a foreign key performs, 'referring' to a linked column in another table. In simple terms, 'referential integrity' guarantees that the target 'referred' to will be found. A lack of referential integrity in a database can lead relational databases to return incomplete data, usually with no indication of an error.

Wikidata

  1. Referential integrity

    Referential integrity is a property of data which, when satisfied, requires every value of one attribute of a relation to exist as a value of another attribute in a different relation. For referential integrity to hold in a relational database, any field in a table that is declared a foreign key can contain either a null value, or only values from a parent table's primary key or a candidate key. In other words, when a foreign key value is used it must reference a valid, existing primary key in the parent table. For instance, deleting a record that contains a value referred to by a foreign key in another table would break referential integrity. Some relational database management systems can enforce referential integrity, normally either by deleting the foreign key rows as well to maintain integrity, or by returning an error and not performing the delete. Which method is used may be determined by a referential integrity constraint defined in a data dictionary.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of referential integrity in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of referential integrity in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

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"referential integrity." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/referential+integrity>.

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